Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has called on Nigeria to urgently shift from dependence on imported technology to building strong local manufacturing capacity, warning that continued reliance on foreign tech undermines industrial growth and limits job creation in the digital economy. She said Nigeria must begin to produce technologies it consumes if it hopes to compete meaningfully in a rapidly changing global economy.
Speaking at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Okonjo-Iweala noted that global disruptions driven by technology, geopolitics and climate change pose serious risks but also offer rare opportunities for countries that act decisively. She said Nigeria and Africa could benefit from these shifts if they invest strategically in technology, skills and industrial capacity rather than remaining consumers of finished products.
She stressed the central role of universities in driving innovation and economic transformation, recalling Nigeria’s post-independence history when the country had only one degree-awarding institution. According to her, the expansion of universities such as ABU laid the groundwork for scientific research, technological development and entrepreneurship, adding that higher institutions must now be positioned as engines of innovation and industrial growth.
Okonjo-Iweala highlighted technology, particularly the internet and artificial intelligence, as one of the most disruptive forces reshaping global trade, production and employment. While acknowledging the benefits of technological advancement, she warned that automation and AI could deepen inequality if countries fail to manage the transition properly and invest in human capital and inclusive growth.
She said Africa stands to gain from the diversification of global supply chains, noting opportunities in labour-intensive manufacturing, renewable energy technology, pharmaceuticals, agro-processing, critical minerals and electric vehicle supply chains. She argued that Nigeria should take advantage of its natural resources and growing investments, including in lithium processing, to move up the value chain rather than exporting raw materials.
Reinforcing her call, Okonjo-Iweala urged Nigeria to stop importing technologies it can manufacture locally, such as solar panels, saying local production would create jobs, strengthen economic resilience and boost productivity. She warned that Nigeria’s current growth rate remains inadequate when population growth is considered and called for sustained, technology-driven growth supported by strong digital infrastructure, skills development, regional trade integration and closer collaboration between government, academia and the private sector.
